Actuator cooling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling device,
         wherein the cooling device comprises:   a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or with the proximal base or member,   the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto PCT application no. PCT/US2016/018042 filed Feb. 16, 2016 thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as iffully set forth herein. This application is also a continuation of andclaims the benefit of priority to PCT application no. PCT/US2016/019461filed Feb. 25, 2016 the disclosure of which is incorporated by referencein its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto PCT application no. PCT/US2016/019466 filed Feb. 25, 2016 thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as iffully set forth herein. This application is also a continuation of andclaims the benefit of priority to PCT application no. PCT/US2016/019469filed Feb. 25, 2016 the disclosure of which is incorporated by referencein its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/459,622 filed Aug. 14, 2014,the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully setforth herein.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims thebenefit of priority to PCT/US13/053591 (publication no WO 2014/025674)filed Aug. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referencein its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

The disclosures of all of the following are incorporated by reference intheir entirety as if fully set forth herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,025,U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,840, U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,122, U.S. Pat. No.6,309,208, U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,107, U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,921, U.S. Pat.No. 6,343,922, U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,377, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,075, U.S.Pat. No. 6,361,300 (7006), U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,870, U.S. Pat. No.6,464,909 (7031), U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,116, U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,929(7075US1), U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,625 (7075US2), U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,169(7075US3), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/214,118, filed Aug. 8,2002 (7006), U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,268 (7077US1), U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,537(7077US2), U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,828 (7077US3), U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/699,856 filed Oct. 30, 2000 (7056), U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/269,927 filed Oct. 11, 2002 (7031), U.S. application Ser.No. 09/503,832 filed Feb. 15, 2000 (7053), U.S. application Ser. No.09/656,846 filed Sep. 7, 2000 (7060), U.S. application Ser. No.10/006,504 filed Dec. 3, 2001, (7068), U.S. application Ser. No.10/101,278 filed Mar. 19, 2002 (7070) and PCT Application No.PCT/US11/062099 (7100WO0) and PCT Application No. PCT/US11/062096(7100WO1), U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,336, U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,202 (7097US1)and U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,388 (7097US2).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Solid sheet metal springs for cooling actuators have been used ininjection molding systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,349,244and 8,562,336. These prior cooling devices comprise a solid body ofsheet metal of relatively high mass in excess of 5 grams that is adaptedto exert a spring force by forced deformation of a portion of the solidsheet of metal. This same sheet of metal is purposely disposed in directheat conductive contact with a relatively large surface of the hot metalhousing of an actuator typically in excess of 10 square millimeters thatitself is disposed in heat conductive communication with a fluiddistribution manifold that is heated to an elevated temperaturesufficient to melt polymer materials. Over time, the ability of thesheet metal spring body to readily deform and provide an effectivespring force is degraded by the very high level of heat to which thesheet metal body is subjected, the sheet metal spring body also actingto conduct heat from the actuator housing body to a cool clamp plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided an injection moldingapparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20, anactuator 10 interconnected to a valve pin 17 having an axis A, a mold300 and a cooling device 500 that cools the actuator 10 wherein, whenassembled, the clamp plate 80 is mounted upstream of the mold 300, themanifold 20 being disposed between the clamp plate and the mold 300,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a proximal arm or member 504 comprised ofa heat conductive material and a distal arm or member 502 comprised of athermally conductive material, the distal arm or member 502 beingmounted by one or more spring loadable interconnections or engagement506 on or to the proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member502 having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80,80 a under a spring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmittingheat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 having engagementsurfaces 506 es that engage against complementary opposing engagementsurfaces (504 us, 502 us) of proximal 504 and distal 502 members forminga selected area of engagement that renders spring 506 substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal arms or members,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature.

The spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 preferably has anamount or degree of mass that renders the spring 506 substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal members.

The area of engagement or contact between engagement surfaces 506 es andone or both of surfaces 504 us or 502 us preferably minimizes, enablesor imparts a minimal amount of, heat conduction between members 504 and502 via or through spring or spring loadable interconnection 506.

The area of engagement or contact between engagement surfaces 506 es andone or both of surfaces 504 us or 502 us is preferably less than about10 square mm, typically less than about 7.5 mm and more typically lessthan about 5 mm.

The actuator 10 typically comprises a housing body 12 that is mounted inthermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuatormounts 50, 60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductivecommunication with or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,the housing body 12 having a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally 12ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

The apparatus can further comprise one or more heat conductive tubes 517a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d containing a heat conductive liquid embeddedwithin one or the other or both of the proximal 504 and distal 502members.

The distal 502 and proximal 504 members can be heat transmissivelyinterconnected or engaged with each other by heat transmissive rods 507or tubes 517 r that are intimately engaged with the members 502, 504.

The apparatus can further comprise one or more hollow heat conductivetubes 517 ah having a cavity containing heat conductive fluid, the oneor more tubes 517 ah being embedded within the body of the housing ofthe actuator 10, 12.

The distal member 502 can have a proximal exterior surface 502 b that isadapted to be engaged and slidable against a complementary surface 12ls, 12 as of the housing body 12, 12 a of the actuator 10 such that heatthermally conducts between the housing body 12, 12 a and the distal armor member 502, the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or memberbeing movable toward and away from the actuator 10 by sliding movementof the proximal exterior surface 502 b of the distal arm or member 502on the complementary surface 12 ls, 12 as of the actuator.

The spring loaded interconnection 506 can be adapted to urge the distalend surface 502 a of the distal arm or member into a compression of atleast 1 pound per square inch (psi) with the clamp plate.

The lateral surface 12 ls and the proximal base member 504 aa arepreferably laterally spaced apart 12 ld from direct heat conductivecommunication with the heated manifold 20.

The clamp plate is typically cooled.

The clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the coolingdevice are typically assembled together in an arrangement wherein thespring 506 a is resiliently compressed up to a maximum of about 3 mmurging the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or member intocompressed engagement with the clamp plate 80 a.

The apparatus can include two or more separate cooling devices eachcomprised of a distal arm or member 502 mounted via spring loadableinterconnection to a proximal base or member 504, each separate coolingdevice being separately mounted to the housing body 12, 12 a of theactuator and separately assemblable together with the clamp plate, themold, the actuator and the manifold such that the distal end surface ofthe distal arm or member of each separate cooling device is incompressed engagement with the clamp plate under the spring loadableinterconnection 506 between each separate distal end arm 502 andproximal base or member 504.

The apparatus can further comprise a mount 803 separating the actuatorhousing from direct contact with the manifold, the mount being cooledand having an upstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with a complementary mounting surface 12 d of the actuator10 and a downstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold 20. Such a mount is preferably comprisedof a thermally conductive metal that is cooled to a temperature of lessthan about 150 degrees F.

The actuator 10 can be interconnected to a valve pin 17 that is mountedto the manifold and extends through a fluid material feed bore 22 in themanifold 20.

The proximal base or member 504 is typically rigidly attached inthermally conductive contact to the laterally spaced surface 12 ls thehousing body 12, 12 a.

The distal arm or member 502, 502 b is typically attached to theactuator such that the arm 502, 502 b is disposed in slidable thermallyconductive contact with the lateral surface 12 ls, 12 as of the housingbody.

The distal arm or member can comprise a rod 502 r slidably disposedwithin a complementary bore 12 bo disposed within the housing body 12,12 a of the actuator 10, the complementary bore 12 bo and the rod 502 rbeing configured such that an exterior surface 502 b of the rod 502 r isslidably engaged in thermally conductive contact against an interiorsurface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingan actuator in an injection molding apparatus 5 comprised of a clampplate 80, a heated manifold 20, an actuator 10 interconnected to a valvepin 17 having an axis A and a mold 300 wherein, when assembled, theclamp plate 80 is mounted upstream of the mold 300, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold, the actuator 10comprising a housing body 12 that is mounted in thermally conductivecontact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 thatare mounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contactwith or on the manifold along the axis A,

the method being characterized in that:

a cooling device 500 is mounted to a surface 12 ls of the housing body12 that is spaced laterally 12 ld from the axis A, the cooling devicecomprising a proximal arm or member 504 that is comprised of a heatconductive material and a distal arm or member 502 that is comprised ofa thermally conductive material, the distal arm or member 502 beingmounted by one or more spring loadable interconnections or engagements506 on or to the proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member502 having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80,80 a under a spring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmittingheat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 has engagementsurfaces 506 es that engage against complementary opposing engagementsurfaces (504 us, 502 us) of proximal 504 and distal 502 members havinga selected area of engagement that renders spring 506 substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal arms or members,

assembling the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold 20, the actuator10 and the heat transmitter together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above, the methodcomprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus of the foregoing claimssuch that the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging thedistal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressedengagement with the clamp plate at least upon heating the manifold to anelevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10 interconnected to a valve pin 17 having an axis A, a mold300 and a cooling device 500 that cools the actuator 10 wherein, whenassembled, the clamp plate 80 is mounted upstream of the mold 300, themanifold 20 being disposed between the clamp plate and the mold 300,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a proximal arm or member 504 comprised ofa heat conductive material and a distal arm or member 502 comprised of athermally conductive material, the distal arm or member 502 beingmounted by one or more spring loadable interconnections or engagements506 on or to the proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member502 having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80,80 a under a spring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmittingheat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 having an amount ordegree of mass that renders the spring 506 substantially non-heatconductive between the proximal 504 and distal 502 members,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature

The mass of the spring loadable interconnection minimizes, enables orimparts a minimal amount of, heat conduction between the proximal anddistal arms or members via or through the spring or spring loadableinterconnection 506.

The mass of the spring loadable interconnection 506 is typically lessthan about 10 grams, more typically less than about 7.5 grams and mosttypically less than about 5 grams.

The spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 can have engagementsurfaces 506 es that engage against complementary opposing engagementsurfaces (504 us, 502 us) of proximal 504 and distal 502 members havinga selected area of engagement that renders spring 506 substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal arms or members.

The area of engagement or contact between engagement surfaces 506 es andone or both of surfaces 504 us or 502 us minimizes, enables or imparts aminimal amount of, heat conduction between members 504 and 502 via orthrough spring or spring loadable interconnection 506.

The area of engagement or contact between engagement surfaces 506 es andone or both of surfaces 504 us or 502 us is typically less than about 10square mm, more typically less than about 7.5 square mm and mosttypically less than about 5 square mm.

The actuator 10 preferably comprises a housing body 12 that is mountedin thermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuatormounts 50, 60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductivecommunication with or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,the housing body 12 having a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally 12ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

Such an apparatus can further comprise one or more heat conductive tubes517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d containing a heat conductive liquid embeddedwithin one or the other or both of the proximal 504 and distal 502members.

The distal 502 and proximal 504 members can be heat transmissivelyinterconnected or engaged with each other by heat transmissive rods 507or tubes 517 r that are intimately engaged with the members 502, 504.

The apparatus can further comprise one or more hollow heat conductivetubes 517 ah having a cavity containing heat conductive fluid, the oneor more tubes 517 ah being embedded within the body of the housing ofthe actuator 10, 12.

The distal member 502 can have a proximal exterior surface 502 b that isadapted to be engaged and slidable against a complementary surface 12ls, 12 as of the housing body 12, 12 a of the actuator 10 such that heatthermally conducts between the housing body 12, 12 a and the distal armor member 502, the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or memberbeing movable toward and away from the actuator 10 by sliding movementof the proximal exterior surface 502 b of the distal arm or member 502on the complementary surface 12 ls, 12 as of the actuator.

The spring loaded interconnection 506 is preferably adapted to urge thedistal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or member into a compressionof at least 1 pound per square inch (psi) with the clamp plate.

The lateral surface 12 ls and the proximal base or member 504 aretypically laterally spaced apart 12 ld from direct heat conductivecommunication with the heated manifold 20.

The clamp plate can be cooled.

The clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the coolingdevice are typically assembled together in an arrangement wherein suchthat the spring 506 a is resiliently compressed up to a maximum of about3 mm urging the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or memberinto compressed engagement with the clamp plate 80 a.

The apparatus can include two or more separate cooling devices eachcomprised of a distal arm or member 502 mounted via spring loadableinterconnection to a proximal base or member 504, each separate coolingdevice being separately mounted to the housing body 12, 12 a of theactuator and separately assemblable together with the clamp plate, themold, the actuator and the manifold such that the distal end surface ofthe distal arm or member of each separate cooling device is incompressed engagement with the clamp plate under the spring loadableinterconnection 506 between each separate distal end arm 502 andproximal base or member 504.

The apparatus can further comprise a mount 803 separating the actuatorhousing 19 from direct contact with the manifold, the mount being cooledand having an upstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with a complementary mounting surface 12 d of the actuator10 and a downstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold 20. Such a mount is typically comprisedof a thermally conductive metal that is cooled to a temperature of lessthan about 150 degrees F.

The actuator 10 is preferably interconnected to a valve pin 17 that ismounted to the manifold and extends through a fluid material feed bore22 in the manifold 20.

The proximal base or member 504 can be rigidly attached in thermallyconductive contact to the laterally spaced surface 12 ls the housingbody 12, 12 a.

The distal arm or member 502, 502 b can be attached to the actuator suchthat the arm 502, 502 b is disposed in slidable thermally conductivecontact with the lateral surface 12 ls, 12 as of the housing body.

The distal arm or member can comprises a rod 502 r slidably disposedwithin a complementary bore 12 bo disposed within the housing body 12,12 a of the actuator 10, the complementary bore 12 bo and the rod 502 rbeing configured such that an exterior surface 502 b of the rod 502 r isslidably engaged in thermally conductive contact against an interiorsurface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingan actuator in an injection molding apparatus 5 comprised of a clampplate 80, a heated manifold 20, an actuator 10 interconnected to a valvepin 17 having an axis A and a mold 300 wherein, when assembled, theclamp plate 80 is mounted upstream of the mold 300, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold, the actuator 10comprising a housing body 12 that is mounted in thermally conductivecontact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 thatare mounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contactwith or on the manifold along the axis A,

the method being characterized in that:

a cooling device 500 is mounted to a surface 12 ls of the housing body12 that is spaced laterally 12 ld from the axis A, the cooling devicecomprising a proximal arm or member 504 that is comprised of a heatconductive material and a distal arm or member 502 that is comprised ofa thermally conductive material, the distal arm or member 502 beingmounted by one or more spring loadable interconnections or engagements506 on or to the proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member502 having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80,80 a under a spring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmittingheat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 having an amount ordegree of mass that renders the spring 506 substantially non-heatconductive between the proximal 504 and distal 502 members,

assembling the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold 20, the actuator10 and the heat transmitter together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above, the methodcomprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus such that the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate atleast upon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In accordance with the invention there is also provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10 interconnected to a valve pin 17 having an axis A, a mold300 and a cooling device 500 that cools the actuator 10 wherein, whenassembled, the clamp plate 80 mounted upstream of the mold 300, themanifold 20 being disposed between the clamp plate and the mold, whereinthe actuator 10 comprises a housing body 12 that is mounted in thermallyconductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50,60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductive communicationwith or contact with or in heat conductive communication with or contactwith or on the manifold along the axis A,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a proximal arm or member 504 comprised ofa heat conductive material and a distal arm or member 502 comprised of athermally conductive material, the distal arm or member or member 502being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 onor to the proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 aunder a spring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmitting heatfrom the proximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the housing body 12 having a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally 12ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 in an arrangementwherein the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 ismovable through the spring loadable interconnection 506 toward and awayfrom the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature.

Such an apparatus can further comprise one or more heat conductive tubes517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d containing a heat conductive liquid embeddedwithin one or the other or both of the proximal 504 and distal 502members.

The distal 502 and proximal 504 members can be heat transmissivelyinterconnected or engaged with each other by heat transmissive rods 507or tubes 517 r that are intimately engaged with the members 502, 504.

Such an apparatus can further comprise one or more hollow heatconductive tubes 517 ah having a cavity containing heat conductivefluid, the one or more tubes 517 ah being embedded within the body ofthe housing of the actuator 10, 12.

Preferably the distal member 502 has a proximal exterior surface 502 bthat is adapted to be engaged and slidable against a complementarysurface 12 ls, 12 as of the housing body 12, 12 a of the actuator 10such that heat thermally conducts between the housing body 12, 12 a andthe distal arm or member 502, the distal end surface 502 a of the distalarm or member being movable toward and away from the actuator 10 bysliding movement of the proximal exterior surface 502 b of the distalarm or member 502 on the complementary surface 12 ls, 12 as of theactuator.

The spring loaded interconnection 506 is typically adapted to urge thedistal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or member into a compressionof at least 1 pound per square inch (psi) with the clamp plate.

The clamp plate is preferably mounted in a position in spaced thermalisolation from the manifold.

The clamp plate is preferably cooled.

The cooling device 500 can include a resilient spring 506 a disposedbetween a body surface 504 a of the proximal base or member 504 and thedistal arm or member 502, wherein the clamp plate, the mold, themanifold, the actuator and the cooling device are assembled together inan arrangement wherein the spring 506 a is resiliently compressed up toa maximum of about 3 mm urging the distal end surface 502 a of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate 80a.

Such an apparatus typically includes two or more separate coolingdevices each comprised of a distal arm or member mounted in springloadable interconnection to a proximal base or member, each separatecooling device being separately mounted to the housing body 12, 12 a ofthe actuator and separately assemblable together with the clamp plate,the mold, the actuator and the manifold such that the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member of each separate cooling device is incompressed engagement with the clamp plate under the spring loadableinterconnection 506 between each separate distal end arm 502 andproximal base or member 504.

Such an apparatus preferably further comprises a mount 803 separatingthe actuator housing from direct contact with the manifold, the mountbeing cooled and having an upstream mounting surface in thermallyconductive communication with a complementary mounting surface 12 d ofthe actuator 10 and a downstream mounting surface in thermallyconductive communication with the manifold 20.

The mount is typically comprised of a thermally conductive metal that iscooled to a temperature of less than about 150 degrees F.

The actuator 10 is typically interconnected to a valve pin 17 that ismounted to the manifold and extends through a fluid material feed bore22 in the manifold 20.

The proximal base or member 504 can be rigidly attached in thermallyconductive contact to the laterally spaced surface 12 ls the housingbody 12, 12 a.

The distal arm or member 502 and proximal member 504 can comprise aunitary thermally conductive body 503 with at least the distal arm ormember 502 being resiliently deformable to form the spring loadableinterconnection 506 on assembly of the clamp plate, the mold, themanifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assembled in anarrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection 506 is loadedwhen the manifold is heated to operating temperature urging the distalend surface 502 a of the distal arm or member into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate.

The distal arm or member and the proximal base or member can comprise aunitary body 503 rigidly attached in thermally conductive contact 504 sto the laterally spaced surface 12 ls, a portion of the unitary bodybeing resiliently deformable to form the spring loadable interconnection506, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter beingassembled in an arrangement wherein the resiliently deformable portionof the unitary body 503 compresses up to a maximum of about 0.5 mm whenthe manifold is heated to operating temperature urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate.

The distal arm or member 502, 502 b can be attached to the actuator suchthat the arm 502, 502 b is disposed in slidable thermally conductivecontact with the lateral surface 12 ls, 12 as of the housing body.

The distal arm or member can comprises a rod 502 r slidably disposedwithin a complementary bore 12 bo disposed within the housing body 12,12 a of the actuator 10, the complementary bore 12 bo and the rod 502 rbeing configured such that an exterior surface 502 b of the rod 502 r isslidably engaged in thermally conductive contact against an interiorsurface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distalarm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at leastupon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingan actuator in an injection molding apparatus 5 comprised of a clampplate 80, a heated manifold 20, an actuator 10 interconnected to a valvepin 17 having an axis A and a mold 300 wherein, when assembled, theclamp plate 80 is mounted upstream of the mold 300, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold, the actuator 10comprising a housing body 12 that is mounted in thermally conductivecontact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 thatare mounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contactwith or on the manifold along the axis A,

the method being characterized in that:

a cooling device 500 is mounted to a surface 12 ls of the housing body12 that is spaced laterally 12 ld from the axis A, the cooling devicecomprising a proximal arm or member 504 that is comprised of a heatconductive material and a distal arm or member 502 that is comprised ofa thermally conductive material, the distal arm or member 502 beingmounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 on or tothe proximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 having adistal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under aspring load and a proximal surface 502 b for transmitting heat from theproximal surface to the distal end surface 502 a,

the proximal base or member 504 is mounted in heat conductive contactwith and to the lateral surface 12 ls such that the proximal base ormember 504 is spaced laterally apart from contact with the one or moreactuator mounts 50, 60, 803, and

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter are assembled together in an arrangement wherein the springloadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal end surface 502a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagement with theclamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold is heated to an elevatedoperating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, whereinwhen assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected andspaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clampplate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal baseor member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or memberbeing comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal endsurface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximalsurface for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distalend,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive andmounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to the housing body of theactuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the distalarm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnectiontoward and away from the actuator,

the distal arm or member being mounted to the proximal base or member inan arrangement such that an exterior surface of the distal arm or memberis disposed in slidable thermally conductive contact engagement with acomplementary surface of the housing body,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature,

the exterior surface of the distal arm or member sliding along thecomplementary surface of the housing body on assembly of the clampplate, the mold, the actuator and the cooling device.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided, a method ofcooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediately abovecomprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus such that the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate atleast upon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator interconnected to and driving a valve pin along an axis A, amold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, wherein whenassembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected and spacedapart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clamp plateand the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal baseor member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or memberbeing comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal endsurface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximalsurface for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distalend;

the actuator (10) comprising a housing body (12) that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold;

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate,

the distal arm or member and proximal base or member comprising aunitary thermally conductive body in which the spring loadableinterconnection comprises a resiliently deformable portion of theunitary body,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable in an arrangement wherein the resilientlydeformable portion of the unitary body is compressed and urges thedistal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressedengagement with the clamp plate when the manifold is heated to anelevated operating temperature.

In such an apparatus:

the housing body 12 is typically mounted in thermally conductive contactalong the axis (A) to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 that aremounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contact withor on the manifold along the axis A, and

and the housing body 12 typically has a surface 12 ls that is spacedlaterally 12 ld from the axis (A), the proximal base or member 504 beingmounted in heat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 lssuch that the proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart fromcontact with the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803

A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediatelyabove above comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, themanifold, the actuator and the cooling device of the apparatus such thatthe unitary body resiliently deforms urging the distal end surface ofthe distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, whereinwhen assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected andspaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clampplate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a heat transmissive rod and a proximalbase or member, the rod being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the rod being comprisedof a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface forengaging the clamp plate under a spring load,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive andmounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to or integral with thehousing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein heat istransmitted between the housing body and the proximal base or member,

the distal arm or member comprising a rod slidably disposed within acomplementary bore disposed within the housing body, the complementarybore and the rod being configured such that an exterior surface of therod is slidably engagable in thermally conductive contact with andagainst an interior surface of the complementary bore transmitting heatfrom the housing body to the distal end surface,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the rod into compressed engagement with the clamp plate when themanifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

In such an apparatus: the housing body 12 is typically mounted inthermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuatormounts 50, 60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductivecommunication with or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,and the housing body 12 has a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally 12ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided, a method ofcooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediately abovecomprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus described immediatelyabove such that the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging thedistal end surface of the rod into compressed engagement with the clampplate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 being mounted by aspring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the distal arm or member 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the distal arm or member 502 having a proximal surface 502 b adapted tobe disposed in sliding contact with a complementary surface 12 ls, 12 asof the actuator 10 for transmitting heat from the proximal surface 502 bto the distal end surface 502 a,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein theproximal surface 502 b slides along the complementary surface 12 ls, 12as and the spring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging thedistal end surface 502 a of the movable rod or arm 502 into compressedengagement with the clamp plate 80, 80 a at least when the manifold isheated to an elevated operating temperature.

In such an apparatus the spring or spring loadable interconnection 506has an amount or degree of mass (typically less than about 5 grams) thatrenders the spring 506 substantially non-heat conductive between theproximal 504 and distal 502 members.

Further in such an apparatus the spring or spring loadableinterconnection 506 typically has engagement surfaces 506 es that engageagainst complementary opposing engagement surfaces (504 us, 502 us) ofproximal 504 and distal 502 members having a selected area of engagement(typically less than about 10 mm) that renders spring 506 substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal arms or members.

In such an apparatus the actuator 10 is typically interconnected to avalve pin 17 that is drivable along an axis A, the housing body 12 beingmounted in thermally conductive contact with one or more actuator mounts50, 60, 803 that are mounted on the manifold 20 downstream of thehousing body 12 along the axis A,

the proximal base 504 of the cooling device 500 being mounted to asurface 12 ls of the housing body 12 that is spaced laterally 12 ld fromthe axis A such that the proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterallyapart from contact with the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803,

The spring loadable interconnection typically comprises one or more rodsor tubes 507, 517 r slidably mounted to or within one of the proximalbase or member 504 and the distal arm or member 502 and rigidlyinterconnected to the other of the proximal base or member 504 and thedistal arm or member 502, the one or more rods or tubes 507, 517 rtransmitting heat between the proximal base or member 504 and the distalarm or member 502,

In such an apparatus the distal arm or member can be movable in an axialdirection toward and away from the actuator housing 12.

In such an apparatus the distal arm or member can be movable in alateral or radial direction toward and away from the actuator housing12.

In such an apparatus, the spring loaded interconnection 506 is typicallyadapted to urge the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm or memberinto a compression of at least 1 pound per square inch (psi) with theclamp plate.

The clamp plate is preferably mounted in a position in spaced thermalisolation from the manifold and is cooled.

The spring loadable interconnection can comprise a resilient spring 506a disposed between a body surface 504 a of the proximal base or member504 and the distal arm or member 502, wherein the clamp plate, the mold,the manifold, the actuator and the cooling device are assembled togetherin an arrangement wherein the spring 506 a is resiliently compressed upto a maximum of about 3 mm urging the distal end surface 502 a of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate 80a.

Such an apparatus can include two or more separate cooling devices eachcomprised of a distal arm or member mounted in spring loadableinterconnection to a proximal base or member, each separate coolingdevice being separately mounted to the housing body 12, 12 a of theactuator and separately assemblable together with the clamp plate, themold, the actuator and the manifold such that the distal end surface ofthe distal arm or member of each separate cooling device is incompressed engagement with the clamp plate under the spring loadableinterconnection 506 between each separate distal end arm 502 andproximal base or member 504.

Such an apparatus typically further comprises a mount 803 separating theactuator housing from direct contact with the manifold, the mount beingcooled and having an upstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with a complementary mounting surface 12 d of the actuator10 and a downstream mounting surface in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold 20.

The mount is typically comprised of a thermally conductive metal that iscooled to a temperature of less than about 150 degrees F.

The valve pin 17 is preferably mounted to the manifold and extendsthrough a fluid material feed bore 22 in the manifold 20.

The proximal base or member 504 is typically rigidly attached inthermally conductive contact to the laterally spaced surface 12 ls thehousing body 12, 12 a.

The one or more rods or tubes 507 can comprise hollow heat conductivetubes 517 ah having a cavity containing a heat conductive fluid and awick.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distalarm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at leastupon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus (5) comprising a clamp plate (80), a heated manifold(20), an actuator (10), a mold (300) and a cooling device (500) thatcools the actuator (10), wherein when assembled the clamp plate (80) andthe mold (300) are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, themanifold (20) is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and theactuator (10) is mounted in thermally conductive communication with themanifold (20),

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member (502) and aproximal base or member (504), the distal arm or member (502) beingmounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement (506) to orwith the proximal base or member (504), the distal arm or member (502)and the proximal base or member (504) being comprised of a thermallyconductive material, the distal arm or member (502) having a distal endsurface (502 a) for engaging the clamp plate (80, 80 a) under a springload and a proximal surface (502 b) in sliding heat conductive contactwith the actuator (10) for transmitting heat from the proximal surface(502 b) to the distal end surface (502 a),

the actuator (10) comprising a housing body (12, 12 a) that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold (20),

the proximal base or member (504) being mounted in heat conductivecontact with the housing body (12) of the actuator (10) in anarrangement wherein the distal end surface (502 a) of the movable rod orarm (502) is movable through the spring loadable interconnection (506)toward and away from the actuator (10),

the spring loadable interconnection (506) comprising a resilientlydeformable elbow (506) integrally formed together with and rigidlyinterconnecting the proximal base (504) and the distal arm (502), theelbow (506) transmitting heat from the proximal base (504) to the distalarm or member 502,

the clamp plate, the mold (300), the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection (506) is loaded urging the distal endsurface (502 a) of the movable rod or arm (502) into compressedengagement with the clamp plate (80, 80 a) at least when the manifold isheated to an elevated operating temperature.

In such an embodiment the housing body 12 is preferably mounted inthermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuatormounts 50, 60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductivecommunication with or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,

wherein the housing body 12 has a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally12 ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus described immediately above such thatthe spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal endsurface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with theclamp plate at least upon heating the manifold to an elevated operatingtemperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 being mounted by aspring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and aproximal surface 502 b in sliding contact with the actuator 10 fortransmitting heat from the proximal surface 502 b to the distal endsurface 502 a,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the movable rod or arm 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the proximal base 504 and the distal arm 502 comprising a unitary solidbody of highly heat conductive material, the spring loadableinterconnection 506 comprising a resiliently deformable portion 506 ofthe unitary solid body rigidly interconnecting the proximal base 504 andthe distal arm 502, the resiliently deformable portion 506 beingresiliently compressible and interconnecting the proximal base 504 tothe distal arm or member 502 and transmitting heat from the proximalbase or member 504 to the distal arm or member 502,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the movable rod or arm 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

In such an apparatus the housing body 12 can be mounted in thermallyconductive contact along an axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50,60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductive communicationwith or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,

wherein the housing body 12 has a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally12 ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distalarm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at leastupon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 comprised of arod or tube 502 r and a proximal base or member 504 comprising a portionof the housing body 12 that is laterally spaced from an axis A alongwhich the valve pin is driven, the actuator 10 comprising a housing body12, 12 a that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermalcommunication with the manifold 20,

the rod or tube 502 r being slidably disposed within a complementarybore 12 bo disposed within the laterally spaced portion 504 of thehousing body 12, the complementary bore 12 bo and the rod 502 r beingconfigured such that the exterior surface 502 b of the rod 502 r isslidable and engaged in thermally conductive contact against an interiorsurface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo,

the distal arm or member 502 being comprised of a thermally conductivematerial having a distal end surface 502 a for engaging the clamp plate80, 80 a under a spring load exerted by a spring loadableinterconnection 506 between the rod 502 r and the laterally spacedportion 504 of the housing body 12,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the movable rod or tube 502 r into compressedengagement with the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

The housing body 12 is preferably mounted in thermally conductivecontact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 thatare mounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contactwith or on the manifold along the axis A,

the interior surface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bobeing spaced laterally 12 ld from the axis A, such that the interiorsurface 12 si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo is spacedlaterally apart from contact with the one or more actuator mounts 50,60, 803.

A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediatelyabove comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus such that the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate atleast upon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 being mounted by aspring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to the proximal baseor member 504, the distal arm or member 502 being comprised of athermally conductive material having a distal end surface 502 a forengaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and a proximalsurface 502 s in sliding contact with a surface 12 ls the actuator 10for transmitting heat from the proximal surface 502 s to the distal endsurface 502 a,

one or more surfaces 502 s of the distal arm 502 being slidably engagedwith one or more surfaces of the proximal base 504, the proximal base504 transmitting heat to the distal arm 502 via the slidably engagedsurfaces,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the movable rod or arm 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the spring loadable interconnection comprising one or more rods or tubes507, 517 r slidably mounted to the proximal base or member 504 andinterconnected to the distal arm or member 502 transmitting heat fromthe proximal base or member 504 to the distal arm or member 502,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the movable rod or arm 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

In such an apparatus the housing body 12 is preferably mounted inthermally conductive contact along an axis A along which the valve pinis driven, the housing body being mounted to one or more actuator mounts50, 60, 803 that are mounted downstream in heat conductive communicationwith or contact with or on the manifold along the axis A,

the surface 12 ls of the actuator with which the proximal surface 502 sof the distal member is slidably engaged being being spaced laterally 12ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 and the proximal surface 502 s of thedistal member 502 are spaced laterally apart from contact with the oneor more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediatelyabove comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus such that the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate atleast upon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 800 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 800 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a highly heat conductive proximal base 803and at least one highly heat conductive leg 800 l extending a selectedupstream longitudinal length UL from the proximal base 803 and forming areception aperture or recess 800 ra in which actuator 10 is mountable inclose proximity to the leg 800 l, the one or more legs 800 l beingformed to include one or more spring joints 800 s along the longitudinallength UL that are resiliently deformable under compression to exert aspring force UF along the longitudinal length UL of the one or more legs800 l,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base 803 being mounted between the actuator 10 and themanifold 20 in an arrangement wherein an upstream distal end surface 800a of the one or more legs 800 l is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the oneor more spring joints are deformed by engagement between the distal endsurface 800 a and a surface 80 a of the clamp plate 80, the one or moredeformed spring joints urging the distal end surface 800 a of thecooling device 800 into compressed engagement with the clamp plate 80,80 a.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of an apparatus as described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring joints are loadedurging the distal end surfaces of the one or more heat conductive legsinto compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate (80) mounted to a mold (300)in spaced relationship, a heated manifold (20), an actuator (10)interconnected to and driving a valve pin (17), the actuator (10)comprising a housing body (12), and a cooling device (500) that coolsthe actuator (10), wherein the manifold (20) is disposed between theclamp plate (80) and the mold (300) and the housing body (12) of theactuator is mounted in thermally conductive communication with themanifold (20),

the cooling device (500) comprising:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member (502) and aproximal base or member (504 aa) mounted in heat conductive contact tothe housing body (12) of the actuator,

the distal arm or member (507 m) comprising a rod (507 u, 507 d)slidably disposed within a complementary bore (504 pb, 504 pba) disposedwithin the proximal base or member (504 aa), the complementary bore andthe rod being configured such that an exterior surface of the rod (507us, 507 ds) is slidably engaged in thermally conductive contact with andagainst an interior surface (504 pbsa, 504 pbs) of the complementarybore (504 pb, 504 pba),

the rod (507 u, 507 d) being comprised of a thermally conductivematerial having a distal end surface (507 a), the rod transmitting heatfrom the proximal arm or member (507 m) to the distal end surface viaengagement of the exterior surface (507 us, 507 ds) of the rod with theinterior surface (504 pbsa, 504 pbs) of the complementary bore,

the rod (507 u, 507 d) being mounted within the complementary bore (504pb, 504 pba) via a spring loadable interconnection (506) to the proximalbase or member (504 aa),

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection (506) is loaded urging the distal endsurface (507 a) of the rod into compressed engagement with the clampplate when the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator andheat transmitter are assembled into an operating assembly.

In such an apparatus the housing body (12) is preferably mounted inthermally conductive contact along an axis A along which the valve pin(17) is driven to one or more actuator mounts (50, 60, 803) that aremounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contact withor on the manifold along the axis A, and the housing body (12) having asurface (12 ls) that is spaced laterally (12 ld) from the axis A, theproximal base or member (504 aa) being mounted in heat conductivecontact with and to the lateral surface (12 ls) such that the proximalbase or member (504 aa) is spaced laterally apart from contact with theone or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803.

In such an apparatus the clamp plate 80 can include an actuatorreceiving aperture 80 ra and an upstream end plate 80 p that is readilyattachable to and detachable from the clamp plate 80 in a predeterminedmating position disposed upstream of the actuator receiving aperture 80ra, and, the clamp plate 80,

the upstream end plate 80 p, the manifold 20, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein theactuator 10 and cooling device 500 are mounted within the actuatorreceiving aperture 80 ra and the spring loadable interconnection 506 isloaded urging the distal end surface 502 a of the rod or arm 502, 507 minto compressed engagement with the upstream end plate 80 p when themanifold 20 is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

The clamp plate 80 can include a recess 80 r formed within the clampplate 80 that is complementary to the upstream end plate 80 p such thatthe upstream end plate is readily receivable within the recess 80 r andattachable to the clamp plate 80 in the predetermined mating position.

The spring loadable interconnection 506 is preferably loaded urging thedistal end surface of the rod into compressed engagement with the clampplate when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the rod intocompressed engagement with the clamp plate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising:

a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20, an actuator 10 interconnected toand driving a valve pin along an axis A, a mold 300 and a cooling device500 that cools the actuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate80 and the mold 300 are interconnected and spaced apart from each other,the manifold 20 is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and theactuator 10 is mounted in thermally conductive communication with themanifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member or member 502 being mountedby a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and aproximal surface 502 b for transmitting heat from the proximal surfaceto the distal end surface 502 a,

wherein one or more heat conductive tubes containing a heat conductivefluid are embedded within one or the other of the proximal 504 or distal502 members.

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the distal arm or member 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

In such an apparatus:

the housing body 12 is typically mounted in thermally conductive contactalong the axis A to one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803 that aremounted downstream in heat conductive communication with or contact withor on the manifold along the axis A, and

wherein the housing body 12 has a surface 12 ls that is spaced laterally12 ld from the axis A, the proximal base or member 504 being mounted inheat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface 12 ls such thatthe proximal base or member 504 is spaced laterally apart from contactwith the one or more actuator mounts 50, 60, 803

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus of described immediately above such thatthe spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal endsurface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with theclamp plate at least upon heating the manifold to an elevated operatingtemperature.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an injection moldingapparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20, anactuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools the actuator10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300 areinterconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member or member 502 being mountedby a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and aproximal surface 502 b for transmitting heat from the proximal surfaceto the distal end surface 502 a,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the distal arm or member 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

One or more heat conductive tubes 517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d can beembedded within one or the other or both of the proximal 504 or distal502 members.

The distal 502 and proximal 504 members are typically heattransmissively interconnected or engaged with each other by heattransmissive rods 507 or tubes 517 r that are intimately engaged withthe members.

One or more heat conductive tubes 517 ah can be embedded within the bodyof the housing of the actuator 10, 12. Such tubes typically contain aheat conductive fluid and a wick that facilitates flow of the heatconductive fluid within the hollow cavity of the tube.

The distal arm or member can have an proximal exterior surface 502 bthat is adapted to be engaged and slidable against a laterally disposedcomplementary surface 12 ls, 12 as of the housing body 12, 12 a of theactuator 10 such that heat thermally conducts between the housing body12, 12 a and the distal arm or member 502, the distal end surface 502 aof the distal arm or member being movable toward and away from theactuator 10 by sliding movement of the proximal exterior surface 502 bof the distal arm or member 502 on the complementary laterally disposedsurface 12 ls, 12 as of the actuator.

The spring loaded interconnection 506 preferably urges the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member into a compression of at least1 pound per square inch (psi) with the clamp plate.

The clamp plate is typically mounted in a position in spaced thermalisolation from the manifold.

The clamp plate can be cooled.

The cooling device 500 typically includes a spring 506 a disposedbetween a body surface 504 a of the proximal base or member 504 and thedistal arm or member 502, wherein the clamp plate, the mold, themanifold, the actuator and the cooling device are assembled together inan arrangement wherein the spring 506 a is compressed urging the distalend surface 502 a of the distal arm or member into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80 a.

The apparatus can include two or more separate cooling devices eachcomprised of a distal arm or member mounted in spring loadableinterconnection to a proximal base or member, each separate coolingdevice being separately mounted to the housing body 12, 12 a of theactuator and separately assemblable together with the clamp plate, themold, the actuator and the manifold such that the distal end surface ofthe distal arm or member of each separate cooling device is incompressed engagement with the clamp plate under the spring loadableinterconnection 506 between each separate distal end arm 502 andproximal base or member 504.

The apparatus can further comprise a mount 50 separating the actuatorhousing from direct contact with the manifold, the mount being cooledand having a first mounting surface 50 a in thermally conductivecommunication with a complementary mounting surface 12 m of the actuator10 and a second mounting surface 50 b in thermally conductivecommunication with a complementary mounting surface 20 s of the manifold20.

The mount is preferably comprised of a thermally conductive metal thatis cooled to a temperature of less than about 150 degrees F.

The actuator can be interconnected to a valve pin that is mounted to themanifold and extends through a fluid material feed bore in the manifold.

The proximal base or member 54 is preferably attached in thermallyconductive contact with the housing body 12, 12 a.

The distal arm or member and proximal base or member can comprise aunitary thermally conductive body 503 with at least the distal arm ormember 502 being movably deformed on assembly of the clamp plate, themold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter in anarrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urgingthe distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressedengagement with the clamp plate.

The distal arm or member and the proximal base or member can comprise aunitary body 503 where at least the proximal base or member 504 isattached in thermally conductive contact 504 s with the housing body 12ls, 12.

The distal arm or member 502, 502 b can be attached such that the arm502, 502 b is in thermally conductive contact with the housing body 12ls, 12 as.

The distal arm or member can comprise a rod 502 r slidably disposedwithin a complementary bore 12 bo disposed within the housing body 12,12 a, the complementary bore 12 bo and the rod 502 r being configuredsuch that the exterior surface 502 b of the rod 502 r is slidable andengaged in thermally conductive contact against an interior surface 12si, 12 a si of the complementary bore 12 bo.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described above comprising assembling theclamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the cooling deviceof the apparatus described above such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distalarm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at leastupon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, whereinwhen assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected andspaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clampplate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal baseor member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or memberbeing comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal endsurface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximalsurface for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distalend,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive andmounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to the housing body of theactuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the distalarm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnectiontoward and away from the actuator,

the distal arm or member being mounted to the proximal base or member inan arrangement such that an exterior surface of the distal arm or memberis disposed in slidable contact engagement with a complementary surfaceof the housing body,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate,

the exterior surface of the distal arm or member sliding along thecomplementary surface of the housing body on assembly of the clampplate, the mold, the actuator and the cooling device.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus of described immediately above such thatthe spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal endsurface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with theclamp plate at least upon heating the manifold to an elevated operatingtemperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, whereinwhen assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected andspaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clampplate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal baseor member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or memberbeing comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal endsurface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximalsurface for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distalend;

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive andmounted in thermal communication with the manifold;

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate,

the distal arm or member and proximal base or member comprising aunitary thermally conductive body in which the spring loadableinterconnection comprises a resilient deformability inherent in theunitary body, the distal arm or member being movably resilientlydeformed on assembly of the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the heat transmitter in an arrangement wherein theresilient deformation of the unitary body urges the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the unitary body resilientlydeforms urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member intocompressed engagement with the clamp plate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, anactuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, whereinwhen assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected andspaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clampplate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductivecommunication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal baseor member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadableinterconnection to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or memberbeing comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal endsurface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximalsurface for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distalend,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive andmounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to the housing body of theactuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the distalarm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnectiontoward and away from the actuator,

the distal arm or member comprising a rod slidably disposed within acomplementary bore disposed within the housing body, the complementarybore and the rod being configured such that the exterior surface of therod is slidable and engaged in thermally conductive contact against aninterior surface of the complementary bore.

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distalarm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at leastupon heating the manifold to an elevated operating temperature.

In accordance with the invention there is also provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member 502 and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member or member 502 being mountedby a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and aproximal surface 502 b for transmitting heat from the proximal surfaceto the distal end surface 502 a,

wherein one or more heat conductive tubes are embedded within one or theother or both of the proximal 504 or distal 502 members.

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the distal arm or member 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the distal arm or member 502 into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

In accordance with the invention there is also provided a method ofcooling the actuator of the apparatus described immediately abovecomprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, theactuator and the cooling device of the apparatus described above suchthat the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal endsurface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with theclamp plate at least upon heating the manifold to an elevated operatingtemperature.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 500 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 500 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a movable rod or arm 502, 507 and aproximal base or member 504 aa, the rod or arm 502, 507 being mounted bya spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to or with theproximal base or member 504 aa, the movable rod or arm 502, 507 beingcomprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface502 a for engaging the clamp plate 80, 80 a under a spring load and oneor more surfaces 502 s, 507 ds, 507 us in sliding contact with one ormore surfaces 504 pbs, 504 pba, 504 is of the proximal base 504 aa fortransmitting heat from the one or more surfaces 504 pbs, 504 pba, 504 isto the distal end surface 502 a,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base or member 504 being mounted to the housing body 12 ofthe actuator 10 in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface 502 aof the movable rod or arm 502 is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein thespring loadable interconnection 506 is loaded urging the distal endsurface 502 a of the movable rod or arm 502, 507 m into compressedengagement with the clamp plate 80, 80 a.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of coolingthe actuator of the apparatus described immediately above comprisingassembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and thecooling device of the apparatus such that the spring loadableinterconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the movablerod or arm into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

The clamp plate 80 of the apparatuses 5 described above can include anactuator receiving aperture 80 ra and an upstream end plate 80 p that isreadily attachable to and detachable from the clamp plate 80 in a matingposition disposed upstream of the actuator receiving aperture 80 rawherein the actuator receiving aperture, the mating position, the clampplate 80 and the manifold 20 are adapted such that when the actuator 10with the cooling devices 500 mounted to the actuator is received withinthe actuator receiving aperture 80 ra and mounted to the manifold 20,the distal end surfaces 502 a of the heat transmitters 502 are engagedwith the upstream end plate 80 p when the upstream end plate 80 p isattached to the clamp plate in the mating position.

The clamp plate 80 can include a recess 80 r formed within the clampplate 80 that is complementary to the upstream end plate 80 p such thatthe upstream end plate is receivable within the recess 80 r and disposedand held in the mating position for stable attachment to the clamp plate80.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided an injectionmolding apparatus 5 comprising a clamp plate 80, a heated manifold 20,an actuator 10, a mold 300 and a cooling device 800 that cools theactuator 10, wherein when assembled the clamp plate 80 and the mold 300are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold 20 isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator 10 ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold 20,

wherein the cooling device 800 comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a highly heat conductive proximal base 803and at least one highly heat conductive leg 800 l extending a selectedupstream longitudinal length UL from the proximal base 803 and forming areception aperture or recess 800 ra in which actuator 10 is mountable inclose proximity to the leg 800 l, the one or more legs 800 l beingformed to include one or more spring joints 800 s along the longitudinallength UL that are resiliently deformable under compression to exert aspring force UF along the longitudinal length UL of the one or more legs800 l,

the actuator 10 comprising a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermallyconductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold 20,

the proximal base 803 being mounted between the actuator 10 and themanifold 20 in an arrangement wherein an upstream distal end surface 800a of the one or more legs 800 l is movable through the spring loadableinterconnection 506 toward and away from the actuator 10,

the clamp plate, the mold 300, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the oneor more spring joints are deformed by engagement between the distal endsurface 800 a and a surface 80 a of the clamp plate 80, the one or moredeformed spring joints urging the distal end surface 800 a of thecooling device 800 into compressed engagement with the clamp plate 80,80 a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of the invention may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an assembly of a top clamp plate, aheated manifold and a pair of actuators mounted on the heated manifold,each actuator having a housing and heat convectors mounted in anarrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one of the actuators of the FIG. 1assembly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view as seen along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 5A-5A of FIG.5.

FIG. 5B is a front view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the heat convectorand actuator in use with clamping plate installed.

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 5C-5C of FIG.5A.

FIG. 5D is a front view similar to FIG. 5B but showing heat pipesalternatively and additionally mounted vertically in the heattransmitter elements and actuator body.

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 5E-5E of FIG.5D.

FIG. 5F is a front view similar to FIG. 5D but with additional heatpipes mounted horizontally to the heat transmitter elements.

FIG. 5G is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 5G-5G of FIG.5F.

FIG. 5H is a front view similar to FIG. 5 but showing rods formedintegrally with the upper heat transmitter element.

FIG. 5I is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 5I-5I of FIG.5H.

FIG. 5J is a front view similar to FIG. 5H but showing heat pipesembedded within the rods and upper heat transmitter element.

FIG. 5K is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 5K-5K of FIG.5J.

FIG. 5L is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the distal andproximal heat conductive component members of a cooling device accordingto the invention having a spring loadable interconnection comprised ofone or series of stacked leaf, belleville, flat wire wave, conical ordisc washer springs that serve as a spring between the distal andproximal members.

FIG. 6 is a front view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the slidable rodsaffixed to the lower heat transmitting element.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 6A-6A of FIG.6.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an actuator having a single coolingdevice mounted to a side wall of the actuator where the cooling devicecomprises a proximal base 504 and a distal plate member that is springloadably mounted on the base with the distal plate 502 in slidableengagement contact with a surface of the housing of the actuator.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7 additionally showing a top clamp platewith the distal plate member in spring loaded engagement therewith.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an actuator having two coolingdevices mounted to two separate side walls of the actuator where thecooling devices comprise a proximal base 504 and a distal plate member502 that is spring loadably mounted on the base 504 with the distalplates being 502 in slidable engagement contact with a surface of thehousing of the actuator.

FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9 additionally showing a top clamp platewith the distal plate members 502 of the heat transmissive members inspring loaded engagement therewith.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an actuator having four separatecooling devices mounted to four separate side walls of the actuatorwhere the cooling devices each comprise a proximal base 504 and a distalplate member 502 that is spring loadably mounted on the base 504 withthe distal plates being 502 in slidable engagement contact with asurface of the housing of the actuator.

FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11 additionally showing a top clamp platewith the distal plate members 502 of the heat transmissive members inspring loaded engagement therewith.

FIG. 13 is is a top perspective view an actuator in thermalcommunication with a heated manifold of an injection molding system withtwo separate cooling devices mounted to sides of the actuator where eachcooling device comprises a proximal base and a distal plate springloadably mounted on the base with the plates in slidable engagementcontact with a surface of the actuator and further with a third coolingdevice mounted to a side wall of the actuator where the third coolingdevice comprises a proximal base and a distal plate spring loadablymounted on the base with the distal plate in spring loaded arrangementto move side-to-side as opposed to upstream downstream.

FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13 additionally showing a top clamp plateassembled together with the actuator and cooling devices with the distalplate members 502 of the heat transmissive members of the coolingdevices in spring loaded engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an actuator in thermalcommunication with a heated manifold of an injection molding system witha single cooling device attached to the actuator where the coolingdevice comprises one exemplary configuration of a unitary body of metalmaterial attached at a proximal base or member end 504 to the actuatorhaving a distally extending arm 502 of one configuration, the distallyextending arm of the unitary body being engageable at a distal endsurface with a top clamp plate when the system is assembled such that adistal end surface of the distally extending arm deforms under springforce to maintain the distal end surface of the arm in compressedcontact with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the FIG. 15 embodiment showing the actuatorassembled together with a top clamp plate and the distal arm member inspring loaded compressed engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of an actuator in thermalcommunication with a heated manifold of an injection molding system witha single cooling device attached to the actuator where the coolingdevice comprises another exemplary configuration of a unitary body ofmetal material attached at a proximal base or member end 504 to theactuator having a distally extending arm 502 of another configuration,the distally extending arm of the unitary body being engageable at adistal end surface with a top clamp plate when the system is assembledsuch that a distal end surface of the distally extending arm deformsunder spring force to maintain the distal end surface of the arm incompressed contact with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the FIG. 17 embodiment showing the actuatorassembled together with a top clamp plate and the distal arm member inspring loaded compressed engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of an actuator in thermalcommunication with a heated manifold of an injection molding system witha single cooling device attached to the actuator where the coolingdevice comprises another exemplary configuration of a unitary body ofmetal material attached at a proximal base or member end 504 to theactuator having a distally extending arm 502 of another configuration,the distally extending arm of the unitary body being engageable at adistal end surface with a top clamp plate when the system is assembledsuch that a distal end surface of the distally extending arm deformsunder spring force to maintain the distal end surface of the arm incompressed contact with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the FIG. 19 embodiment showing the actuatorassembled together with a top clamp plate and the distal arm member inspring loaded compressed engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the inventionshowing an actuator in thermal communication with a heated manifold ofan injection molding system with four separate cooling devices that eachcomprise a rod or tube spring loadably mounted within a complementaryprecision formed receiving bore drilled in body of the housing of theactuator, the rods or tubes being adapted for slidable engagementcontact against an internal surface of the precision formed receivingbores.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the FIG. 21 embodiment showing the actuatorassembled together with a top clamp plate and the rods or tubes being inspring loaded compressed engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the FIG. 21 embodiment showing the actuatorassembled together with a top clamp plate and the rods or tubes being inspring loaded compressed engagement with the top clamp plate.

FIG. 24 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention showing acooling device comprised of an assembly of a distal heat transmissiveplate member assembled together with a spring loading mechanism, theassembly being that is readily mountable to or between the actuator anda top clamp plate such that when the top clamp plate and the actuatorand the assembly are assembled together into operating configuration,the distal heat transmissive plate member is spring loadably engagedagainst the top clamp plate and heat transmissively engaged with aproximal heat transmissive base member that is mounted to the actuatorhousing.

FIG. 25A is a top perspective view of an actuator assembled togetherwith another embodiment of a pair of cooling devices comprised ofsliding rods and a sliding block mounted within a base attached to theactuator.

FIG. 25B is a front right side perspective view of an assembly of amanifold, an actuator with cooling devices as in FIGS. 25A-25E and a topclamp plate configured to assemble together quickly that the actuatorand cooling devices so that spring loaded rods and block of the coolingdevices 500 attached to the actuator will engage with the underside of aquickly assemblable plate component of the top clamp plate.

FIG. 25C is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 25B.

FIG. 25D is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25D-25D of FIG.25A.

FIG. 25E is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25E-25E of FIG.25D.

FIG. 25F is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25F-25F of FIG.25A.

FIG. 25G is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25G-25G of FIG.25F.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the FIGS. 1-3 embodiment, the apparatus 5 includes a cooling device800 that is formed having a proximal mount 803 that is mounted betweenthe downstream end of the actuator housing 12 and the heated manifold20. A pair of upstream extending legs 800 l extend upstream from themount 803. The cooling device 800 is formed and adapted to form areception aperture or recess 800 ra that is complementary to andreceives the actuator housing 12 such that the legs 800 l are disposedin close proximity to the lateral outer surfaces 12 los of the actuatorhousing 12. The legs 800 l are formed to have an upstream extendinglongitudinal length UL that disposes the distal-most edge surface 800 aof the legs 800 l upstream beyond the upstream-most extending surface 12u of the actuator 10 when the actuator 10 is mounted in operating formatwithin the reception aperture 800 ra. The legs 800 l are configured tohave one or spring joints 800 s along the longitudinal length UL of thelegs 800 l. Spring joints 800 s are resiliently deformable such thatwhen the legs 800 l are subject to a compressive force along thelongitudinal length UL of the legs 800 l, the spring joints exert aspring force UF. The longitudinal length UL of the legs 800 l, the clampplate 80, manifold 20, actuator housing 12 and their mounting andinterconnection components are selected, arranged and formed such thatwhen the clamp plate 80, manifold 20, actuator 10 and cooling device 800are assembled into operating format, the undersurface 80 a of the clampplate intimately engages with the distal end surface 800 a undercompression to cause the spring joints 800 s to exert the UF force bysurface 800 a against surface 80 a. Similarly, the same components areformed and arranged together with the formation and arrangement ofcooling device 500 such that the distal end most surface 502 a of distalmember 502 engages the undersurface 80 a of plate 80 under compressionfrom spring load force UF, FIG. 3, exerted by springs 506 of coolingdevice 500 when all such components are assembled into operating format.

The term spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 as used hereinmeans a device that is disposed and engaged between or with the distal502 and proximal 504 members and imparts a spring force UF therebetweenat least when the apparatus is assembled and the manifold 20 is broughtup to elevated operating temperature. As shown in all embodimentsdescribed herein where independent springs 506 such as shown in FIGS.1-14, 21-25G are employed, such springs typically comprise one or moreconventional coil, leaf, flat wire wave, Belleville or conical spring(s)having an upper end 506 u and a lower end 506 l that respectively engagevia engagement surfaces 506 es against and between a complementaryengagement surfaces 502 us, 504 us of the distal member 502, 507, 507 mand the proximal member 504, 504 aa such that the spring 506 iscompressed and the distal member 502 is forcibly urged under the forceUF of the spring when compressed in an upstream direction to compressthe distal end surface 502 a or 507 a under such force UF intoengagement with the undersurface 80 a of the clamping plate 80 at leastwhen the apparatus is assembled and the manifold brought up to anelevated operating temperature. Such coil or leaf or flat wire wave orBelleville or conical spring(s) typically have a degree of resilientcompression that is six or more times the degree of resilientcompression of the plate springs of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,349,244 and8,562,336, typically having a degree of resilient or elastic compressionof at least about 3 mm meaning that said coil et al. springs can berepeatedly compressed by at least about 3 mm and resiliently orelastically expand or revert back to their original uncompressedcondition, length or state.

The proximal 504 and distal 502 arms or members typically comprisemechanically independent heat conductive bodies or members 502, 504 thatare interconnected via a pin or rod or slot and engaged with each othervia a spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 that is typicallycomprised of a non-heat conductive spring, such as a coil spring asshown in FIGS. 3, 5-5K, 23, 25-25E or one or more stacked leaf,belleville, conical or disc washers 506 w or springs such as shown inFIG. 5L that act as a spring 506 between the distal and proximalmembers.

The spring or spring loadable interconnection 506 exerts a spring forceUF, FIGS. 3, 5C, 5L, 23, 25D, between the proximal arm or member 504 andthe distal arm or member 502 at least when the apparatus 5 is assembledand the manifold is brought to an elevated operating temperature. Thespring or spring loadable interconnection 506 typically has engagementsurfaces 506 es that engage against complementary opposing engagementsurfaces 504 us and 502 us of proximal 504 and distal 502 members suchthat heat conduction between members 504 and 502 is minimized and suchthat the spring 506 is substantially non-heat conductive. The spring orspring loadable interconnection 506 is preferably selected to have anamount or degree of mass (typically less than about 10 grams and moretypically less than about 5 grams) that renders the spring 506substantially non-heat conductive and minimizes, enables or imparts aminimal amount of, heat conduction between members 504 and 502 via orthrough spring or spring loadable interconnection 506. The mass ofspring loadable interconnection 506 is preferably less than about 10 andmost preferably less than about 5 grams. The area of engagement orcontact between engagement surfaces 506 es and one or both of surfaces504 us or 502 us is preferably selected to be an amount or degree(typically less than about 10 square mm, typically less than about 7.5square mm and more typically less than about 5 square mm) that rendersthe spring 506 substantially non-heat conductive and minimizes, enablesor imparts a minimal amount of, heat conduction between members 504 and502 via or through spring or spring loadable interconnection 506.

FIGS. 1-25G show an injection molding apparatus 5 comprised of anactuator 10 having a housing body 12, 12 a that is thermally conductiveand mounted in thermal communication with a heated manifold 20 intowhich fluid injection material 102 is injected from an injection machine100 into and through one or more manifold distribution channels 22 thatdeliver fluid downstream to a downstream fluid delivery channel 200 suchas the bore of a nozzle that terminates at its downstream end in a gate304 that communicates with the cavity 302 of a mold 300. The actuator 10includes a piston 14 that is controllably drivable along a drive axis Ain a reciprocal upstream and downstream direction together with a valvepin 17 that is interconnected to the piston 14. The valve pin 17 ismounted within a complementary receiving aperture 91 a of a bushing 91,the outside surface of the pin 17 mating with an interior surface of theaperture 91 a and being slidable in an upstream and downstream directionaxial A direction within the aperture 91 a of the bushing 91 such thatinjection fluid that flows through channels 22, 200 is substantiallyprevented from flowing upstream through mounting aperture 91 a. Thebushing 91 is fixedly mounted within the body of the heated manifold 20via bushing screw 92 that is screwably engaged within a complementarythreaded receiving aperture bored within the heated manifold 20. Thebushing 91, screw 92, actuator 10 and valve pin 17 are all adapted andarranged such that the valve pin 17 is controllably drivable upstreamand downstream through both the manifold distribution channel 22 and thedownstream nozzle channel 200 between a downstream-most gate closedposition and one or more upstream gate open positions.

As shown in the FIGS. 1, 4 embodiment, the actuator housing 12 istypically mounted axially A upstream of and on or to the heated manifold20. The actuator 10 can be mounted on or to the manifold via either orboth mounts or spacers 60 and a water cooled cooling device or mount 803as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,349,244, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. Thedownstream axially facing surface 12 d of the actuator housing 12 isalso typically mounted on or to the stabilization mount 50. As shown,the cooling mount 803 and spacers 60 are mounted on or to an upstreamsurface of the stabilization mount 50. The downstream axially facingsurface 12 d of the actuator housing 12 is mounted in direct heat orthermally conductive contact with one or more of the mounts 60, 50, 803that are in turn mounted in direct heat conductive contact or directheat conductive communication with the heated manifold in axialalignment with axis A of the actuator housing and valve pin 17.

One or more of the mounts 50, 60, 803 act as insulators that prevent orretard the communication or conduction of heat from the heated manifold20 through the mounts 50, 60, 803 to the lateral surface 12 ls of theactuator body 12 that is spaced laterally 12 ld from the drive axis A ofthe actuator 10 and valve pin 17 a distance 12 ld sufficient to preventor substantially retard conduction of heat through ambient air orthrough the housing body 12, valve pin 17 or mounts 50, 60, 803. To theextent that heat is conducted or communicated from the heated manifold20 to the housing body 12 such heat is conducted from the housing body12 to the proximal member 504, 504 aa further to the distal member 502,502 u and finally to the cool clamp plate 80 as described herein.

In all of the FIGS. 4-25G embodiments, the cooling device 500 comprisesa heat transmitter that is comprised of a distal arm or member orassembly 502, 502 r, 509, 509 a, 509 b, 507, 506, 506 bi and a proximalbase or member 504, the distal arm or member 502 or assembly beingmounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement 506 to orwith a proximal base or member 504, 504 a, 504 aa. The proximal base ormember 504, 504 a, 504 aa is preferably mounted such that acomplementary surface of the member 504, 504 a, 504 aa is disposed ormounted in intimate or compressed thermally conductive contact on, to oragainst a surface 12 ls, 12 si of the housing body 12 that is spacedlaterally 12 ld away from the axis A of the actuator 10 and valve pin17. The location of the mounting of the proximal member 504, 504 a, 504aa is arranged such that the proximal base or member 504 is spacedlaterally apart from contact with the axially mounted actuator mounts50, 60, 803 that are directly mounted in close adjacency to and inthermal communication with the heated manifold 20 and on which theproximal end 12 d of the actuator housing 12 is directly axially Amounted.

The distal arm or member 502 is preferably comprised of a highlythermally conductive material and has a distal end surface 502 a that isadapted to compressibly engage against an undersurface 80 a of the clampplate 80 under a spring load from the spring loadable interconnection506 between the distally extending arm 502 and the proximal base ormember 504 when all components of the system 5 are fully assembled andthe heated manifold is brought up to an elevated operating temperature.The system 5 can be adapted and arranged such that the distal endsurface 502 a is not engaged under a compressive force when the systemis in a cold non operating condition when the system 5 is initiallyassembled before the manifold 20 is heated to operating temperature orwhen the system 5 is shut down and allowed to return to room temperatureafter the manifold 20 has been heated up to operating temperature.

Thus the system 5 is preferably adapted and arranged such thatcompressive force between distal end surface 502 a and the surface 80 aof the clamp plate 80 occurs only when the system 5 including manifold20 is brought up to normal elevated operating temperature. In the FIGS.4-14 and 21-25G embodiments where the distal arm 502 or rod 502 rcomprises a heat conductive independent body that is independent of andmounted on an independent compressible spring body 506, the degree ofupstream and downstream movement Q along or substantially parallel tothe axis A, ranges from 0 mm when the system 5 is in a cold or roomtemperature condition up to a maximum of about 3 mm when the system 5 isbrought up to normal elevated operating temperature (such as betweenabout 150 and 450 degrees F.). Similarly, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 13, 14 where the arm 502 is arranged and adapted for lateral Lmovement relative to the axial direction A of the actuator 10, thedegree of lateral movement Q′, FIG. 14, ranges from 0 mm when the system5 is in a cold or room temperature condition up to a maximum of about 3mm when the system 5 is brought up to normal elevated operatingtemperature. The independent spring body 506 in the FIGS. 1-14, 21-24embodiments is resilient such that after being compressed Q by up toabout 3 mm when the system is at operating temperature, the independentspring body 506 will return back to its original uncompressed ornon-compressed axial spring length or state when the system returns toroom temperature.

In the FIGS. 15-20 embodiments where the heat transmitting device 500comprises a unitary or integral body 502, 504, 506 of compressible metalor other material, the degree of upstream and downstream movement Q″ ofthe distal arm 502 along or substantially parallel to the axis A, rangesfrom 0 mm when the system 5 is in a cold or room temperature conditionup to a maximum of about 0.5 mm when the system 5 is brought up tonormal elevated operating temperature (such as between about 150 and 450degrees F.). The spring 506 in the FIGS. 15-20 embodiments that isintegral with the bodies of arm 502 and base 504, is resilient such thatafter being compressed Q″ by up to about 0.5 mm when the system is atoperating temperature, the integral spring body 506 will return back toits original uncompressed or non-deformed axial length or state when thesystem returns to room temperature.

The arm 502 has an exterior or proximally disposed surface 502 b formaking contact with and receiving heat from the actuator housing bodycomponents 12, 12 a via engagement between an exterior arm surface 502 band a laterally disposed complementary mating surface 12 ls, 12 as ofthe housing body 12. The arm 502 transmits heat received via theproximal surface 502 b to the distal end surface 502 a and in turn tothe relatively cool clamp plate 80 via compressed engagement betweensurface 502 a and a complementary undersurface 80 s of the clamp plate80.

In the FIGS. 5-14, 24-25G embodiments, the arm 502, 509 a also receivesheat from the actuator housing 12 by transmission of heat through rodsor tubes 507 which in turn receive heat from the base member 504 whichitself receives heat from the actuator housing 12 by intimate compressedengagement with an exterior laterally disposed surface 12 l of thehousing 12. The laterally disposed actuator surface 12 l of the housing12 is spaced a lateral distance 12 ld away from the drive axis A of thevalve pin 17 because the valve pin 17 comes into direct thermal contactwith the heated injection fluid 102. Thus the heat transmission device500 is disposed in a laterally spaced position away from the valve pin17 and the valve pin axis A such that the base 504 is removed fromdirect thermal contact or thermal communication with the axis or thevalve pin 17. In such embodiments, the proximal base member 504 isrigidly attached to the lateral actuator surface 12 l such as via a boltor screw 504 s such that a complementary surface 504 b of the basemember 504 is engaged in intimate heat conductive contact with thelateral disposed surface 12 l that is spaced laterally 12 ld from theaxis.

Similarly in the FIGS. 21-23 embodiments, the base 504 of the rods 502 rare engaged with a laterally disposed actuator surface 12 si that isspaced a lateral distance 12 ld away from the drive axis A of the valvepin 17. Thus the heat transmission rods 502 r are disposed in alaterally spaced position away from the mounts 50, 60, 803, valve pin 17and axis A such that the base 504 of the rods 502 r is removed fromdirect or closely adjacent thermal contact or communication with theaxis A or the valve pin 17.

In the FIGS. 21-23 embodiments, the actuator 10 comprises a housing body12, 12 a that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermalcommunication with the manifold 20 as described above. In the FIGS.1-20, 24 embodiments, the proximal base or member 504 of the coolingdevice 500 is mounted to the housing body 12 of the actuator 10 in anarrangement where the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm ormember 502 makes compressed contact with the clamp plate surface 80 asuch that the end surface 502 a moves or travels some distance relativeto the actuator housing 12, 12 a to which the arm 502 is mounted. Thearm 502 and distal engagement surface 502 a is movable via thecompressible spring 506 a toward and away from the actuator 10.

Similarly in the FIGS. 21-23 embodiment, the distally extending arm orrod or tube 502 r is movable toward and away from the actuator housing12 via a compressible spring 506 a. The thermally conductive rods 502 rare mounted to proximal guides 504 which are in turn mounted to theactuator housing body 12. As shown, the rods 502 r are slidably disposedwithin complementary receiving apertures or bores 12 bo bored into thehousing body 12. The rods 502 r have an exterior surface 502 b that areslidably engaged with an interior surface 12 si, 12 a si of the housingbodies 12, 12 a which cause heat to be thermally transmitted from thehousing bodies 12, 12 a to the rods 502 r which in turn transmit heat tothe clamp plate 80 via compressed contact between surface 502 a andsurface 80 a. Up and down movement of the rods 502 r within theapertures 12 bo occurs with the surfaces 502 b and 12 si and 12 a sisliding against each other in engaged contact.

Similarly in the FIGS. 1-20 embodiments, the cooling devices 500 aremounted and arranged such that the proximally disposed arm surfaces 502b are maintained in slidable engaged contact with the complementaryhousing body surfaces 12 ls, 12 as, the surfaces 502 b receiving heatfrom the housing bodies 12, 12 a and in turn transmitting such receivedheat to the clamp plate 80 via compressed contact between surfaces 502 aand 80 a.

In the FIGS. 15-20 embodiments, the distal arm or member 502 andproximal base or member 504 are formed as a single unitary body 503 ofhighly conductive metal. The spring load in such unitary bodies 503 iscreated via deformation of the unitary bodies 503 such that when theclamp plate 80, mold 300, manifold 20, actuator 10 and cooling device503 are all assembled together, the unitary body 503 resiliently deformsunder compression to travel to a different position 502 d relative tothe actuator housing 12 to which the body 503 is mounted and relative tothe original position 502 o that the unitary body was disposed in priorto surface 502 a making contact with surface 80 a. The unitary body 503has an inherent resilience or inherent spring such that when the body ismoved to the deformed position 502 d the inherent spring or resiliencewithin the body 503 causes the distal end surface 502 a to remain underforcible compressed contact with the undersurface 80 a of the clampplate 80.

In the FIGS. 13-14 embodiment, another cooling device 505 according tothe invention is shown where the distally extending arm 502 movesradially toward and away from the actuator housing bodies 12, 12 a andaxis A. Such a cooling device 505 arrangement can be provided forexploiting the side-to-side or radial movement SS that the actuator 10travels relative to the clamp plate 80 when the system is assembled in acooled state and then subsequently the manifold 20 is heated to anelevated temperature. The heating of the manifold 20 subsequent toassembly of all of the clamp plate 80, mold 300, manifold 20, actuator10 and cooling devices 500, 505, results in the actuator moving side toside relative to the clamp plate 80. Such side-to-side or radialmovement SS in the left or lateral direction L relative to the driveaxis A of the actuator can be accounted for prior to assembly such thatthe distal end surface 502 a can be brought into compressed contact withthe complementary mating surface 80 a of the clamp plate with resilientcompression being maintained by the spring 506 a disposed between theproximal base or member 504 and the heat transmission plate or element502. As with the above-described embodiments, the surface 502 a travelstoward and away from the housing bodies 12, 12 a when compressed andwhen compression is released.

The FIGS. 1-12 embodiments show cooling device 500 arrangements wherethe distal arm 502 is adapted to move back and forth along a path oftravel that is generally upstream and downstream or generally parallelto the drive axis A of the actuator or valve pin 17

With reference to FIGS. 5-6A, the proximal base member 504 is heattransmissively interconnected to or engaged with the distal member 502via a heat transmissive rod 507, the downstream end of which 507 d isslidably mounted within a complementary precision bore 504 pb that isdrilled within the distal mount member 502 such that the downstream end507 d of the rod 507 is engaged in heat transmissive intimate contactwith an interior surface 504 pbs of the bore 504 pb. In such anembodiment, the upstream end 507 us of the rod 507 is screwablyconnected to the distal member 502 into a complementary aperture withindistal member 502 such that when the member 502 travels through Q thedownstream end 507 d is slidably moved along the path of travel Qtogether with movement of distal member 502.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, the upstream ends507 u of the heat transmissive rods 507 can conversely be slidablymounted within complementary bores 502 pb provided in distal member 502such that the exterior surface of the upstream end 507 u of the rod 507is slidably and heat transmissively engaged against the interior surface502 pb s of the bore 502 pb. In such an embodiment the downstream end507 d of the rod 507 is screwably connected to proximal mount member 504such that when the member 502 travels through Q the upstream end 507 uis slides along the interior surface 502 pb s of the bore 502 pb asmember 502 travels through the path of travel Q.

Thus, the rods or tubes 507, 517 r are preferably slidably mounted to orwithin one of the proximal base or member 504 and the distal arm ormember 502 and rigidly interconnected to the other of the proximal baseor member 504 and the distal arm or member 502.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5H, 5I, the rods 507 ir are formedintegrally together with and as a part of the body of the distal member502, the outside surface 507 os of the rods 507 ir being engaged andslidable against the interior surface 504 pbs of the receiving bores 504pb within the proximal mounts 504. As shown, the distal member 502 isspring loaded by spring 506 that disposed between the distal 502 andproximal 504 heat transmissive members.

In another embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G one or theother of the distal 502 and proximal 504 members can have one or morehighly heat conductive tube members that contain a heat conductive fluid517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d embedded or mounted within a complementaryreceiving bore drilled into the members 502 or 504. Similarly, one ormore of the rods or tubes 507 can comprise and be adapted to contain aheat conductive fluid such as tube 517 r shown in FIGS. 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G,5J, 5K. Such heat conductive tubes 517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d arecomprised of a tubular member or wall that itself is comprised of amaterial that is highly heat conductive such as copper, aluminum, gold,platinum or the like. The tubular member or wall forms a hollow interiortube cavity that contains a highly heat conductive fluid such as water,methanol or the like and also preferably further typically contains awick that facilitates flow of the heat conductive fluid within andthrough the length of the cavity of the tube. Such heat conductive tubesfacilitate the transmission of heat between the actuator housing 12, theproximal member 504 and the distal member. An example of the structureand configuration of such heat conductive tubes is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,500,279, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referenceas if fully set forth herein.

Similarly, such heat conductive tubes 517 ah can be embedded within thebody of the actuator housing 12 as shown in FIG. 5F, 5G in the samemanner as described above where the tubes 517 a, 517 b, 517 c, 517 d areembedded within members 502 or 504.

With reference to FIGS. 25A-25G the actuator 12 of the apparatus 5 has apair of cooling devices each having a base member 504 aa. One of the twocooling devices 500 has cylindrical slots 504 pb, 504 pba that receive acomplementary rod shaped member 507 m comprised of an upper rod portion507 u connected to a lower rod portion 507 d. The upper 507 u and lower507 d portions of rod member 507 m, FIGS. 25F, 25G are connected to eachother and are both respectively slidably mounted within thecomplementary slots 504 pb, 504 pba for upstream and downstream movementUD. The configuration of the upper and lower 507 u, 507 d rod portionsof the rod 507 m is adapted so that the outside surfaces 507 us, 507 dsof the rod 507 m are in slidable heat conductive engagement with theinside surfaces 504 pbs, 504 pbsa of the base member 504 aa. The basemember 504 aa is mounted in heat conductive engagement with the outsidesurface of actuator housing 12. The base member 504 aa is mounted suchthat it is spaced 12 ls a lateral distance 12 ld from the axis A of thevalve pin 17 and housing 12 whereby the surface 12 ls and the basemember 504 aa are laterally spaced apart from direct heat conductivecommunication with the heat manifold 20. The rod 507 m is mounted suchthat the rod 507 m is spring load biased via spring 506 which exertsupstream directed force UF to urge the distal end surface 507 a of therod 507 m into contact heat conductive engagement with a surface 80 a ofthe top clamp plate 80. As in embodiments described above, rods 507, 507m can comprise a heat conductive, fluid containing tube that arecomprised of a material that is highly heat conductive such as copper,aluminum, gold, platinum and preferably contain a highly heat conductivefluid such as water, methanol or the like that facilitates thetransmission of heat between the actuator housing 12, the proximalmember 504, the walls of the tube 507 m and the clamp plate 80. As withproximal heat conducting member 502, in such an embodiment where therods 507, 507 m comprise a heat pipe or tube, a distal end surface 507 aof the rod or tube engages a surface 80 a under compression via a springload from spring 506 or otherwise.

Similarly with reference to FIGS. 25D, 25E the other cooling device ofthe FIGS. 25A-25G embodiment comprises a base member 504 aa in which arectangular shaped distal arm or member 502 is slidably mounted in acomplementarily shaped slot 504 sb. The rectangular arm or member 502 isconnected to rods 507 having a lower rod member 507 d that are slidablyreceived within complementary slots 504 pb. The outside surfaces 507 dsof the lower rod 507 d portion, FIG. 25E are in slidable heat conductiveengagement with the inside surfaces 504 pbs of the base member 504 aa.The distal rectangular heat conducting member 502 is slidably receivedwithin the complementary receiving aperture 504 sb such that the outsidesurface 502 s of distal arm 502 is in slidable heat conductiveengagement with the inside surface 504 is of the slot 504 sb. Theoutside surface 502 s of the distal arm 502 is also preferably mountedsuch that surface 502 s is in slidable heat conductive engagement withthe outside surface 12 as of the upstream actuator member 12 a andsurface 12 ls. The base member 504 aa is mounted in heat conductiveengagement with the outside surface 12 ls of actuator housing 12. Theslidable mounting rod 507, 507 d is mounted such that the rod 507 isspring load biased via spring 506 which exerts upstream directed forceUF to urge the distal end surface 502 a of the distal arm 502 into heatconductive engagement with a surface 80 a of the top clamp plate 80.

FIGS. 25A-25C show an assembly of the the FIG. 25A actuator 10 with thepair of cooling devices 500 attached to the actuator housing togetherwith a manifold 20 and a top clamp plate 80. The top clamp plate 80 isformed with a receiving aperture 80 ra for insertion of the actuator 10and cooling device subassembly that enables the actuator to be mountedon the manifold 20 and surrounded by the top clamp plate as shown. Theupstream end of the top clamp plate 80 has a recess 80 r formed in acomplementary configuration to a plate 80 p that is insertable withinthe recess 80 r in an upstream position relative to the actuator housing12 and its attached cooling devices 500 such that the distal endsurfaces 502 a of the heat transmissive rods 507 m and the heattransmissive block 502, FIGS. 25A-25G, engage the undersurface 80 a ofthe clamp plate 80 p under spring loaded compression. The plate 80 p isreadily attachable to and detachable from the upstream end surface ofthe clamp plate 80 via screws or bolts 80 t after the actuator 10 withattached cooling devices 50 has been inserted in the receiving aperture80 ra and mounted on the manifold 20.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An injection molding apparatus comprising aclamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling devicethat cools the actuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate and themold are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifoldis disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold, whereinthe cooling device comprises: a heat transmitter comprising a distal armor member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member beingmounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or withthe proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being comprised ofa thermally conductive material having a distal end surface for engagingthe clamp plate under a spring load, the actuator comprising a housingbody that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermal communicationwith the manifold, the proximal base or member being mounted to thehousing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the distal endsurface of the distal arm or member is movable through the springloadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator, the distalarm or member having a proximal surface adapted to be disposed insliding contact with a complementary surface of the actuator fortransmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface,the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heattransmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein theproximal surface slides along the complementary surface and the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of themovable rod or arm into compressed engagement with the clamp plate atleast when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature;wherein the mass of the spring loadable interconnection is less thanabout 5 grams and the area of engagement or contact between theengagement surfaces of the spring loadable interconnection and one orboth of complementary surfaces of proximal and distal members is lessthan about 10 square mm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the springor spring loadable interconnection has an amount or degree of mass thatrenders the spring substantially non-heat conductive between theproximal and distal members.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thespring or spring loadable interconnection has engagement surfaces thatengage against complementary opposing engagement surfaces of proximaland distal members having a selected area of engagement that renders thespring substantially non-heat conductive between the proximal and distalarms or members.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator isinterconnected to a valve pin that is drivable along an axis A, thehousing body being mounted in thermally conductive contact with one ormore actuator mounts that are mounted on the manifold downstream of thehousing body along the axis A, the proximal base of the cooling devicebeing mounted to a surface of the housing body that is spaced laterallyfrom the axis A such that the proximal base or member is spacedlaterally apart from contact with the one or more actuator mounts. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spring loadable interconnectioncomprises one or more rods or tubes slidably mounted to or within one ofthe proximal base or member and the distal arm or member and rigidlyinterconnected to the other of the proximal base or member and thedistal arm or member, the one or more rods or tubes transmitting heatbetween the proximal base or member and the distal arm or member.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal arm or member is movable in anaxial direction toward and away from the actuator housing.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal arm or member is movable in alateral or radial direction toward and away from the actuator housing.8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spring loaded interconnection isadapted to urge the distal end surface of the distal arm or member intoa compression of at least 1 pound per square inch (psi) with the clampplate.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp plate is mounted ina position in spaced thermal isolation from the manifold.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp plate is cooled.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the spring loadable interconnectioncomprises a resilient spring disposed between a body surface of theproximal base or member and the distal arm or member, wherein the clampplate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the cooling device areassembled together in an arrangement wherein the spring is resilientlycompressed up to a maximum of about 3 mm urging the distal end surfaceof the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clampplate.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes twoor more separate cooling devices each comprised of a distal arm ormember mounted in spring loadable interconnection to a proximal base ormember, each separate cooling device being separately mounted to thehousing body of the actuator and separately assemblable together withthe clamp plate, the mold, the actuator and the manifold such that thedistal end surface of the distal arm or member of each separate coolingdevice is in compressed engagement with the clamp plate under the springloadable interconnection between each separate distal end arm andproximal base or member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisinga mount separating the actuator housing from direct contact with themanifold, the mount being cooled and having an upstream mounting surfacein thermally conductive communication with a complementary mountingsurface of the actuator and a downstream mounting surface in thermallyconductive communication with the manifold.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1wherein a mount for mounting the actuator with the manifold is comprisedof a thermally conductive metal that is cooled to a temperature of lessthan about 150 degrees F.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valvepin is mounted to the manifold and extends through a fluid material feedbore in the manifold.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximalbase or member is rigidly attached in thermally conductive contact tothe laterally spaced surface of the housing body.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more rods or tubes comprise hollow heatconductive tubes having a cavity containing a heat conductive fluid anda wick.
 18. A method of cooling an actuator in an injection moldingapparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuatorhaving a housing body, a mold and a cooling device that cools theactuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate and the mold areinterconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold isdisposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator ismounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold, themethod being characterized in that: the cooling device is mounted to theactuator housing body such that a proximal surface of the distal arm ormember is disposed in sliding contact with a complementary surface ofthe actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to a distalend surface of the distal arm or member, the distal arm or member beingmounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or withthe proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being comprised ofa thermally conductive material, mounting the actuator in thermalcommunication with the manifold, mounting the proximal base or member tothe housing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the distalend surface of the distal arm or member is movable through the springloadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator, assemblingthe manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter together in anarrangement wherein the proximal surface slides along the complementarysurface and the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging thedistal end surface of the movable rod or arm into compressed engagementwith the clamp plate at least when the manifold is heated to an elevatedoperating temperature; wherein the mass of the spring loadableinterconnection is less than about 5 grams and the area of engagement orcontact between the engagement surfaces of the spring loadableinterconnection and one or both of complementary surfaces of proximaland distal members is less than about 10 square mm.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 wherein either the spring or spring loadable interconnectionhas an amount or degree of mass that renders the spring substantiallynon-heat conductive between the proximal and distal members or thespring or spring loadable interconnection has engagement surfaces thatengage against complementary opposing engagement surfaces of proximaland distal members having a selected area of engagement that renders thespring substantially non-heat conductive between the proximal and distalarms or members.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the housing body hasan axis A along which the valve pin is driven, the housing body beingmounted in thermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or moreactuator mounts that are mounted downstream on the manifold along theaxis A, the method further comprising mounting the proximal base ormember to a surface of the housing body that is spaced laterally from anaxis A, the proximal base or member being mounted in heat conductivecontact with and to the lateral surface such that the proximal base ormember is spaced laterally apart from contact with the one or moreactuator mounts.
 21. A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatusof claim 1 comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, themanifold, the actuator and the cooling device such that the springloadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of thedistal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.